Require backup generators at gas stations, terminals

Hurricane Sandy has had a huge impact on Monmouth County, and our hearts and prayers go out to our neighbors and friends who have lost everything.

However, the gasoline shortage that is forcing us to operate like a Third-World country is, in my view, something that could be avoided.

The lack of reliability of JCP&L as an electric provider and restorer has compelled more and more Monmouth County residents to purchase generators as alternate power sources. The long lines of people toting gasoline containers attest to that.

This could have been avoided and should have been anticipated. Here are some simple steps that should be taken:

1. Require by law or ordinance all gasoline stations, as a condition of doing business, to have backup generators sufficient to power their pumps. Generators in the 7,000- to 10,000-watt range would provide more than enough power to operate pumps, and would represent a one-time expenditure for the stations.

2. Require by law or ordinance wholesale terminals to have backup power capability. Some terminals collocated with refineries could use the cogeneration capability of the refinery, and others would require backup generation for pumps.

Obviously, availability of fuel would not be a problem at those terminals.

The financial burdens of these requirements are not onerous, and the businesses would be earning revenue through the sale of their products. Requiring that fuel suppliers, and especially gas stations, provide fuel for electric generation would be a service to citizens and not a burden on the suppliers.

Joseph Malik

Middletown

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Require backup generators at gas stations, terminals

Hurricane Sandy has had a huge impact on Monmouth County, and our hearts and prayers go out to our neighbors and friends who have lost everything.

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